Then David asked him, “Where are you coming from?” “I’ve escaped from the camp of Israel,” he answered.

and they mourned, wept and fasted until evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, for the troops of Adonai and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

“Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!

Daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet and finery, who put ornaments of gold on your clothes.

Then he made him king over Gilead, Asher, Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin—over all Israel.

Saul’s son Ish-bosheth was 40 years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned for two years. But the house of Judah followed David.

The battle was very fierce that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated before David’s servants.

So Joab blew the shofar, and all the soldiers halted, and pursued Israel no more, nor did they continue to fight any longer.

to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish the throne of David over Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba!”

Then Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf saying, “Whose is the land? Make your covenant with me, and see, my hand will be with you to bring all Israel over to you.”

Now Abner had a word with the elders of Israel saying, “In times past you wanted David to be king over you.

So now do it! For Adonai has spoken of David saying, ‘By the hand of My servant David I will deliver My people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies.’”

Abner also spoke in the hearing of Benjamin. Then Abner went to Hebron to speak in the hearing of David about all that was agreeable to Israel and to the whole house of Benjamin.

Abner said to David, “Let me get up and go rally all Israel to my lord the king, so that they may cut a covenant with you, and you may reign over all that your soul desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he departed in shalom.

So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not the king’s will to kill Abner son of Ner.

Then the king said to his soldiers, “Don’t you realize that a prince and a great man has fallen in Israel today?

Assassination of Ish-bosheth

Now when Saul’s son heard that Abner had died in Hebron, his courage sank, and all the Israelites were disturbed.

All Israel Anoints David King

Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and spoke saying, “Here we are, your own flesh and blood.

Even before, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led Israel out and back. Also Adonai said to you, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel and be ruler over Israel.’”

So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David cut a covenant with them at Hebron before Adonai. Then they anointed David king over Israel.

In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned 33 years over all Israel and Judah.

David then realized that Adonai had established him as king over Israel, and that He had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.

Master of Breakthroughs

Now when the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines marched up searching for David. When David heard about it, he went down to the stronghold.

Ark Comes Into Jerusalem

Now David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, 30,000.

Meanwhile David and the whole house of Israel were celebrating before Adonai with all kinds of instruments made of cypress wood, with harps, lyres, tambourines, three-stringed instruments and cymbals.